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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (April 1, 1884)
THE WEST SHORE. 112 i acci- m,iiu lr mn nnv ill will : von know it wnn nn clout, mid you can't think how Wily I felt about it. Father would toko tho jarkot ofT of mo quick enough, when I got h o, if he heard of it ; cant wo let bygones 1k, mid liogin n new deal ?" Edward remained Bilent. Jlo was wido enough awake now, and bin cyoH woro gleaming with n light that wns nut fever. "Hun good fellnw," ndded liracebridgn Martin. "Bob never meant to hurt you ; and you know Iio'h your cousin. Ho in going limine in n day or two for the holidays, and ho want to straighten thin up." "A sweet, affectionate sort of n cousin lie in. 1. want nothing to do with him or you either, do away, mullet mo alone !" It seemed ih though ho was Htruggling to prevent an outburst of passion, lto cloned bin lips lirmly, and turned bin face away. If they had been wiso or tender hearted, they would have done ns ho Haid. Instead, they lingenxl, Robert Hunter never even moving in his chair, whilst J'raocbridgo HtoiKl by his Hide with a Million look upon bin face. "I'm sure, Ed," continued Hubert, "wo camo hero an friend. If you want to cut up rough wo can go out, but you no dn't think I'm going to go round begging your pardon any more. If you don't want to bo friends itii nil right, but all tho lxiyH will know that it not my fault." "Enemls!" It aeonied that Edward could stand it no longer. Ho turned, rained himself in tho bed, and glarod nt tho two victor. Tom my friend t Ever since I camo bore 1 have had but one foo.nnd that wiih you, Robert Hunter. Braco bridge Martin would havo treated mo well enough if you had let him nlono. You UM tnl.-s against mo and Bet the Ih.jh all ngaiiiHl mn; you misrepresented mo to your father ; n do.en ti a you havo tried to ruin mo with tho doctor; and only thin week you stole my questions and hhwIi, ho that I migbt fail at examination. To crown it all you havo tried U murder me. No, wo will never be friends. I bato you; I always will Imto you, and I never will have anything nu.ro to do with you and yours until tho day comes when I can havo my revongo !" Iliii excitement triumphed over his weakness, so much that ho actually thundered out these last worda of defiance; l10 U,yH (mv,rM ,,m.k (t M H , , dismayed Ho gl,t ,Vo gone on, but fortunately at this jnnch.ro the nurse camo in, accompanied by tho doctor. Ah! I,i H H this?" cirlnimod tho latter, and without waiting for mi nnawer, ho bundled tho two hoV8 out of tho room, just n, Edward foil buck, wbito and trembling, from exhaustion. Thin affair of course had nn evil cfToet on Edward, but Im .voung and had a stout constitution. I f wo,!, ho cruwhsl out into tho sunlight, to find , vn,a 17, yT T1 " n'-ly received W letter from h m.lo, who, nft.r hearing liXrf ccouut of U,o accident, ee,od u bo .a.i.fi.Hh wh uo niN. cjHvnliv to Run. nftre . Dr. Inman was not so sure, but he was too busy to investigate nt the close of the session, and contented him self with seeing that the injured boy had every attention. When the session closed he had his arrangements made, and left to attend his synod. When he returned, ho found that Edward, who had been convalescing rapidly, had disappeared only the daybefore. Search was made, even a liberal reward was offered, but Dr. Innian never saw him again. Ten years of a man's life represent a long time, after all. So much of success or failure can bo crowded into that period that for some it has seemed almost an eternity. In ten years Robert Hunter had changed from a Rchool boy to a man of business, with a fund of experience and a fortune that was placed at a pretty high figure by those who had noted tho almost invariable success that had attended bis ventures. He had gone into business at an early ago, and his father dying u few years later, he had gono his own gait, untrammeled by Advice or lack of capital. To the surprise of some of his friends, he had stuck closely to business, and there seemed little danger now that ho would go wrong, as they had once predicted. On tho contrary, many of his old traits had faded away, and ho seemed only intent on getting money, though he was not at all penurious, spite of his lonely life. Certainly he had done better than his old schoolmate, Bracebridge Martin, who had cast ten years more or loss recklessly away. Some such idea even penetrated to the brain of Brace bridgo one evening, as he halted for a moment at the door of tho parlor, listening to the sounds of music that drifted out from the room beyond. Then he threw open the door and stalked into the presence of the musician, who wns n fair young lady of twenty. As be entered she ceased playing, and looked up with a guzo that might have been anxious, or only inquiring. "Villa I" said he, "I've known Robert Hunter a great many years ; I went to school with him ; I've been in business with him, and we seemed to be friends. Let me tell yon ho was the worst enemy I ever had. If you ever hear that I have done anything desperate, you may know that ho was more than half to blame. It seems to me that be has his eyes on you. I don't like to talk about men, but I can't see him looking at you without giving you a warning. Vida, I'd Booner see you dead and in your eoflin than Robert Hunter's wife." " Do not fear for me, Bracebridge. I will confide to you what I have told no one else. He proposed to me and I rejected him. I understand hia nature and will keep him nt arm's length, but, oh, beware of him your self." "Thank heaven for that! As for me I am lost already." An so saying, Bracebridge rushed from her presence. That evening Vida saw nothing of her brother ; and was not surprised, though she pondered long- and anxiously oyer his passionate exclamation. When he did not make bin Rpppnrnneo the next mornina something of